This is how I spent my lunch today

[Revvdmedia]

I have not even sat in the M240i. I didn't want to either until I am more confident that I would be making that move, then I'm not disappointed. It is possible the 2 series might be a bit cramped, but I doubt that would bother me much. I've otherwise driven coupes for years of various sizes and have yet to be bothered. I almost never have passengers or a significant amount of luggage, so small works for me. I'm also about 5"8 and less than 160lbs, so I am of smaller stature. Who knows though. The only cars I have driven that I did think would be a nuisance on the daily is Lotus Elise and Lamborghini Aventador lol. The Porsche Cayman GTS was good though lol.

 

[BlueByYouGT]

Just blabbing here but I know I would appreciate it when I am looking, so...

I briefly looked at the Audi 3's and don't remember them being anywhere near as cramped. More like the 3-series, but it's been a few years now.

Dismal performance for equal price (than BMW and AMG) quickly turned me away, even though I would have loved to own an Audi.

I just looked it up, A3 and 2 series dimensions are close. I mean so close you'd think they were built by the same people, at the same plant, on the same chassis. Like, nearly identical. Not sure about performance of the S3 or RS3 vs Ms and AMGs but I do know Audis don't lease as well as BMWs.

 

[BlueByYouGT]

I have not even sat in the M240i. I didn't want to either until I am more confident that I would be making that move, then I'm not disappointed. It is possible the 2 series might be a bit cramped, but I doubt that would bother me much. I've otherwise driven coupes for years of various sizes and have yet to be bothered. I almost never have passengers or a significant amount of luggage, so small works for me. I'm also about 5"8 and less than 160lbs, so I am of smaller stature. Who knows though. The only cars I have driven that I did think would be a nuisance on the daily is Lotus Elise and Lamborghini Aventador lol. The Porsche Cayman GTS was good though lol.

Damnit, I was just about to suggest an Aventador, too!

 

[Revvdmedia]

Damnit, I was just about to suggest an Aventador, too!

I drove one down in Vegas on the race track, lol. I will say, I drove the Porsche as a starter, then moved into the Aventador. The Porsche is a much better track car lol, so very communicative and responds exactly how you expect, brakes are balanced, etc. The Aventador is a fast tank, you need to get on the binders hard and fast, and she loves to understeer on hairpins. That Porsche was something else, quite surprising.

 

[Soca Boy]

I drove one down in Vegas on the race track, lol. I will say, I drove the Porsche as a starter, then moved into the Aventador. The Porsche is a much better track car lol, so very communicative and responds exactly how you expect, brakes are balanced, etc. The Aventador is a fast tank, you need to get on the binders hard and fast, and she loves to understeer on hairpins. That Porsche was something else, quite surprising.

Dream Racing Las Vegas? I love that place.

 

[Revvdmedia]

For anyone still interested in this saga, it seems the bodyshop has been working on my car this whole time (I thought I would be told explicitly that...) and the current ETA for completion is this Thursday. If this ends up being the case, I need to decide what I do moving forward. I might make a trip to the BMW dealership that has the baby bimmers on sale and take a look.

While I admit that the BMW could end up being yet another regrettable decision, based on what they offer (other than a few missing amenities that I can live without), it might fit the bill of what I really wanted all along. AWD for winter beast mode, smaller vehicle, inline 6 (I love that sound), 2 door coupe. With them finally being at an advertised price I can swallow, we will see where this goes. Definitely contingent on a thorough test drive.

 

[eflyguy]

They started repairs without your knowledge?

Dang.

Was this body shop your choice?

 

[Revvdmedia]

They started repairs without your knowledge?

Dang.

Was this body shop your choice?

Technically, the initial letter from the adjuster said repairs start immediately, but that made no sense considering they hadn't looked at the car yet. You'd think they'd want to determine some value before starting. I guess that notation made it fact.

I did not have a body shop of choice, I've never had to have any body work done, ever (because I don't crash into things lol), so I left it to an approved shop of my insurer, which states they offer a lifetime warranty. Although I do care, it doesn't make much difference since at the moment the accident happened, I knew I wouldn't be keeping the car any longer. I was one foot out the door with this car to begin with, and this pushed me the rest of the way.

 

[Hockster]

Let us know which body shop and work quality if you don't mind.

 

[Soca Boy]

Let us know which body shop and work quality if you don't mind.

Took my Stinger to Fusion Collision on 34ave when I had my hit and run. They did pretty good work, still have to get my nano coating redone this summer which Insurance paid for.

 

[Ozstung]

For anyone still interested in this saga, it seems the bodyshop has been working on my car this whole time (I thought I would be told explicitly that...) and the current ETA for completion is this Thursday. If this ends up being the case, I need to decide what I do moving forward. I might make a trip to the BMW dealership that has the baby bimmers on sale and take a look.

While I admit that the BMW could end up being yet another regrettable decision, based on what they offer (other than a few missing amenities that I can live without), it might fit the bill of what I really wanted all along. AWD for winter beast mode, smaller vehicle, inline 6 (I love that sound), 2 door coupe. With them finally being at an advertised price I can swallow, we will see where this goes. Definitely contingent on a thorough test drive.

From what I gather BMW's aren't cheap to service, is this correct? And how does this effect the Decision making moving forward?

The price of running the Stinger was a big tick in my purchase.

 

[Revvdmedia]

From what I gather BMW's aren't cheap to service, is this correct? And how does this effect the Decision making moving forward?

The price of running the Stinger was a big tick in my purchase.

I only intend to lease, likely 4 years, and give it back when I'm done. The warranty and free maintenance run the entire 4 years here, so the only running costs to me should be payment, insurance and fuel (plus consumable like tires and wipers). The long term cost is a primary reason I will only lease.

I think I'm ok with having some fun with something and giving it back later. Financially, it's a toss up of how much extra you spend doing this, but in reality I have never kept a car longer than 3-1/2 years, yet. Cars are not a financially sound investment, but even more for me since I often switch them. My car history in my signature below spans only 16 years.

 

[Revvdmedia]

To update, Stinger is "nearly" done...Friday they said they're getting the stoneguard installed, so it should realistically be complete today and ready for me to pick up today...I hope.

That said, I did stop by BMW on Saturday and took the M240i XDrive for a test drive. I did really like the sports car feel and the smaller size. I did like the car, but did receive a bit of sticker shock when I asked for a quick print off of the lease payments, which I think had some incorrect data, but still. I'm expecting I can pick up the M240i for 150-200 a month more than I'm paying right now for the Stinger once negotiated (which I dumped 17K equity into when purchased). I can afford 150-200 a month more, but I do question the perceived benefit of paying more on monthly payments. I do like sporty cars and understand there is a premium to pay on a "well built" sports car. The other part of me questions how often I will take advantage of the performance considering the traffic density in my commutes. Also, I've had a very similar monthly payment for the last 8 years, so an increase would reflect inflation...

So basically, I want something nice but don't want to pay for it, so I'll sit here and deliberate this week lol.

I looked over every single "premium" vehicle I could think of that has similar performance (although some had less) and every coupe came up around the same or more money (RC350, Q60 Red Sport, C43 Coupe, then Audi S3, etc). I think about the Golf R which was enjoyable on the drive, but is a compromise due to having 4 doors, no sunroof, engine doesn't sound as nice as an I6, front wheel biased, and really not that pretty IMO. So it's a tough call.

 

[eflyguy]

So it's a tough call.

In my opinion, you're in a good place because you'll have the Stinger back, and aren't forced to rush into a decision.

I would be reluctant to pay more than what I am now for anything on your list. None of them are better (again, in my opinion.) *Perhaps* the C43 AMG (which is what I almost bought right when I found out the Stinger was coming), but it's not *that* much better to justify the cost.

 

[Hockster]

There's also the question of how moderately high horsepower cars that are RWD will behave on Edmonton's notoriously bad streets in the winter.

 

[Revvdmedia]

There's also the question of how moderately high horsepower cars that are RWD will behave on Edmonton's notoriously bad streets in the winter.

Considering how long our winter seems to be, I would be going AWD, not because it is necessary, but because it is BETTER. Also, I've found over the years that while I do go to the drag strip once in a while, I have yet to properly track a car on a circuit and there is no denying AWD hooks up better on the street from a launch than RWD, making them quicker within the legal confines of the speed limit.

For what it's worth, I did drive my Mustang for 3 winters on Nokian Hakka R2's. I never got stuck and I didn't struggle overly hard. I will say though, just because you can, doesn't mean you should, and doesn't mean it's fun.

 

[Kamauxx]

From what I gather BMW's aren't cheap to service, is this correct? And how does this effect the Decision making moving forward?

The price of running the Stinger was a big tick in my purchase.

I don't know how things are done outside the U.S. but all the maintenance on my BMW is free for the first 30k miles. Recommended oil change interval is every 10k miles so if someone leases for under 40k miles maintenance will be free for the entirety of their possession.

 

[JVsGT]

To update, Stinger is "nearly" done...Friday they said they're getting the stoneguard installed, so it should realistically be complete today and ready for me to pick up today...I hope.

That said, I did stop by BMW on Saturday and took the M240i XDrive for a test drive. I did really like the sports car feel and the smaller size. I did like the car, but did receive a bit of sticker shock when I asked for a quick print off of the lease payments, which I think had some incorrect data, but still. I'm expecting I can pick up the M240i for 150-200 a month more than I'm paying right now for the Stinger once negotiated (which I dumped 17K equity into when purchased). I can afford 150-200 a month more, but I do question the perceived benefit of paying more on monthly payments. I do like sporty cars and understand there is a premium to pay on a "well built" sports car. The other part of me questions how often I will take advantage of the performance considering the traffic density in my commutes. Also, I've had a very similar monthly payment for the last 8 years, so an increase would reflect inflation...

So basically, I want something nice but don't want to pay for it, so I'll sit here and deliberate this week lol.

I looked over every single "premium" vehicle I could think of that has similar performance (although some had less) and every coupe came up around the same or more money (RC350, Q60 Red Sport, C43 Coupe, then Audi S3, etc). I think about the Golf R which was enjoyable on the drive, but is a compromise due to having 4 doors, no sunroof, engine doesn't sound as nice as an I6, front wheel biased, and really not that pretty IMO. So it's a tough call.

Just to clarify your situation... you are getting your repaired Stinger back that you put $17k down on when purchased. Now you're contemplating trading in that car for a leased BMW M240i which will increase your car payments by $150-$200? Am I getting this right?

 

[Revvdmedia]

Just to clarify your situation... you are getting your repaired Stinger back that you put $17k down on when purchased. Now you're contemplating trading in that car for a leased BMW M240i which will increase your car payments by $150-$200? Am I getting this right?

The payments on the Stinger are low because of the 17K equity. I'm estimating I will lose most of that equity and that's simply due to the accelerated rate of depreciation in the front half of the loan, that's a given in any new car purchase that you sell shortly after buying. I find the breaking point on most cars on a 5 year loan to be about 3 years, I'm only 18 months deep.

The situation is that I can afford higher payments, but will I be happy with what I am driving when I make that move, and for a whole 4 years? I'm contemplating between keeping at car at it's existing rate that I already wanted to get rid of even before it was driven into. I haven't enjoyed the Stinger for the last 16 months of ownership.

So, basically taking the foolishness out of the mix, will I be happier with the BMW? That's the biggest unknown.

FWIW, the Stinger under the same situation (4yr/64k, zero down) would be 744/mth, BMW would be 907/mth before negotiations. The Stinger is 52,662 sale price, BMW is ~64,780, hence why it is more expensive.

 

[JVsGT]

The payments on the Stinger are low because of the 17K equity. I'm estimating I will lose most of that equity and that's simply due to the accelerated rate of depreciation in the front half of the loan, that's a given in any new car purchase that you sell shortly after buying. I find the breaking point on most cars on a 5 year loan to be about 3 years, I'm only 18 months deep.

The situation is that I can afford higher payments, but will I be happy with what I am driving when I make that move, and for a whole 4 years? I'm contemplating between keeping at car at it's existing rate that I already wanted to get rid of even before it was driven into. I haven't enjoyed the Stinger for the last 16 months of ownership.

So, basically taking the foolishness out of the mix, will I be happier with the BMW? That's the biggest unknown.

FWIW, the Stinger under the same situation (4yr/64k, zero down) would be 744/mth, BMW would be 907/mth before negotiations. The Stinger is 52,662 sale price, BMW is ~64,780, hence why it is more expensive.

The most important question to me, would be how much of that $17k in equity are you willing to lose.
I'm actually in my 2nd Stinger. My first was a lease (2018 GT2). I had it for 9 months before I traded it in for a 2019 GT2. I traded it for a few reasons : I wanted to own the car instead of leasing but in Texas, I would have paid full taxes on the lease buyout (I had already paid full taxes on the lease) so that wasn't an option I was willing to consider. I was able to negotiate $39k for my trade (I owed a little under $38k on the lease buyout) so I would have $1k in positive equity. I only put $1k down on original lease so I was basically breaking even with the exception of the 9 months of payments I would be out (basically rent on the car). I was only able to negotiate $4500 off of the MSRP of the new GT2 so not the best deal that could be had but I got a great interest rate (.9% for 66 months). Also, I was able to get the tax savings of trading in a $39k car so only paid taxes on the difference. I could have stayed in the lease till the end but I'd walk away with nothing after 3yrs and probably end up owing money for exceeding the mileage allocation. Point to all this story is, I'd definitely try to recoup as much of that $17k as possible in whatever way possible. Whether that's selling it privately or to a dealership (as opposed to trading it in). I understand you're unhappy with the Stinger so no point in continuing to pay any amount for something you're not happy with.